Remote monitoring system for air conditioners

• US 20050038567A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Maeda, Tsutomu, Kawai, Tsuyoshi, Ozawa, Yoshio
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0294 Optimizing process, e.g. process efficiency, product quality

Abstract

This invention provides a remote monitoring system for air conditioners installed respectively in a plurality of buildings for concentrically monitoring the operating state of the air conditioners from a distance. The system comprises data collectors 3 installed in the respective buildings, and a remote monitor 4 connected to the data collectors 3 of all the buildings via a communication network. Each of the data collectors 3 collects state data representing the operating state of the air conditioner installed in each building and transmits the collected state data to the remote monitor 4. The remote monitor 4 receives the state data collected by each data collector 3, diagnoses the operating state of the air conditioner installed in each building based on the received state data, and outputs the result of diagnosis. In this way, the air conditioners can be optimally adjusted within a short period of time.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring system for air conditioners used by at least one user and installed respectively in a plurality of buildings for concentrically monitoring the operating state of the air conditioners from a distance, the system comprising data collectors installed in the respective buildings, and a remote monitor connected to the data collectors of all the buildings via a communication network, each of the data collectors comprising:

data collecting means for collecting state data representing the operating state of the air conditioner installed in each building, and transmitting means for transmitting the collected state data to the remote monitor,

the remote monitor comprising;

receiving means for receiving the state data collected by each data collector,

diagnosing means for diagnosing the operating state of the air conditioner installed in each building based on the received state data, output means for outputting the result of diagnosis of the air conditioner, and

remote monitor notification means,

wherein the remote monitor further comprises input means for inputting one or a plurality of control parameters determined based on the result of diagnosis of the air conditioner in each building, and transmitting means for transmitting the control parameters input for the air conditioner of the building to the data collector of the building, the data collector further comprising receiving means for receiving the parameters transmitted to the data collector, adjusting means for setting the received control parameters in the air conditioner and thereby adjusting the operating state thereof and adjuster notification means such that the remote monitor notification means notifies the adjusting means of a need for operation adjustment and thereafter the adjuster notification means notifies the at least one user that operation adjustment is to be made and, upon receipt of permission by the at least one user, the adjusting means adjusts the operating state.

2. A remote monitoring system for air conditioners used by at least one user and installed respectively in a plurality of buildings for concentrically monitoring the operating state of the air conditioners from a distance, the system comprising data collectors installed in the respective buildings, and a remote monitor connected to the data collectors of all the buildings via a communication network, each of the data collectors comprising:

data collecting means for collecting state data representing the operating state of the air conditioner installed in each building, transmitting means for transmitting the collected state data to the remote monitor,

receiving means for receiving the parameters transmitted to the data collector,

adjusting means for setting the received control parameters in the air conditioner and thereby adjusting the operating state thereof, and adjuster notification means,

the remote monitor comprising;

receiving means for receiving the state data collected by each data collector,

diagnosing means for diagnosing the operating state of the air conditioner installed in each building based on the received state data, and output means for outputting the result of diagnosis of the air conditioner, and

remote monitor notification means,

wherein the diagnosing means of the remote monitor prepares a candidate value or candidate values for one or a plurality of control parameters required for improving the operating state based on the result of diagnosis of the air conditioner, and the output means outputs the candidate value or values prepared as the result of diagnosis and wherein the adjusting means sets the received control parameters in the air conditioner for adjusting the operating state thereof such that the remote monitor notification means notifies the adjusting means of a need for operation adjustment and thereafter the adjuster notification means notifies the at least one user that operation adjustment is to be made and, upon receipt of permission by the at least one user, the adjusting means adjusts the operating state.